Enter every conversation assuming you have something to learn.

Celeste Headlee’s Having Better Conversations presentation focuses on the science-based fundamentals of communication and includes thought-provoking topics like “the smarter you are, the worse you are at communicating.” This highly motivational talk, with 10 practical lessons, is designed to inspire self-confidence and introduces strategies for enhancing personal and professional relationships by simply becoming better at having conversations.

Celeste's workshop offers concrete actions to improve attendees' conversational skills and to broaden their view of what constitutes a good (and civil) conversation. Having a conversation is like playing a game of catch. Communication has increased in our technological age, but meaningful conversation has plummeted. If a conversation is one-sided, the ball drops.

When your job hinges on how well you talk to people, you learn a lot about how to have conversations—and that most of us don't converse very well. Celeste knows the ingredients of a great conversation: honesty, brevity, clarity, and a healthy amount of listening. She argues that listening is the true power that separates those who gain a competitive advantage in whatever they aim to achieve. Knowing what conversational tool to use, and when, is critical to cultivating lasting and productive relationships.

Breaking Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving.

Celeste Headlee’s Do Nothing examines the cult of productivity, challenging long-held assumptions about time use, idleness, hard work, and daily habits that are ultimately doing us harm. This keynote provides tangible strategies to reverse the trend that’s making us all sadder, sicker, and less productive—offering a path back to a way of life that allows us to truly thrive.

In her Do Nothing-focused workshops, tailored to meet each company’s specific structure—whether fully in-office, remote, or hybrid—Celeste addresses critical workplace challenges, including:

• Burnout – What it is, how to recognize it, and actionable ways to prevent it

• Work/Life Balance – How to restore healthy boundaries and reclaim personal time

• Productivity – Debunking myths and sharing evidence-based ways to be genuinely productive

With warmth, humor, and science-based insight, Celeste inspires a shift in mindset that redefines success—not by how busy we are, but by how fulfilled and effective we can be.

Using AI with intention and care to embrace the benefits without eroding critical human connection

AI has the potential to dramatically transform the way we communicate—for better and for worse. That’s why it’s essential to use AI intentionally, leveraging its benefits while safeguarding the human connection at the core of effective communication.

In this powerful keynote, Celeste Headlee explores the growing role of AI in communication, offering evidence-based insights and practical guidance on how to integrate AI tools responsibly.

Key Benefits of AI in Communication Include:

• Breaking language barriers, enabling authentic conversations between people who don’t share a common language
• Injecting positivity into conversations, improving tone and emotional perception
• Increasing speed and efficiency, which is vital in emergencies and enhances customer service workflows

Risks and Downsides of AI Communication:

• Users may perceive AI-driven responses as inauthentic or uncooperative, reducing trust
• Lack of emotional intelligence in AI means it often fails to understand sarcasm, tone, or emotional nuance
• Conversations with AI often feel transactional and lacking empathy, which can damage human connection

Celeste offers deeply researched, thought-provoking content on how to use AI tools with care and intention—ensuring that as technology evolves, the human element remains at the heart of all meaningful communication.

Create an effective hybrid work culture that supports teamwork and collaboration

Many workers want to work from home when they can—and that’s healthy. Research shows that a hybrid schedule, where employees are in the office 1–2 days per week, leads to the highest levels of productivity and well-being.

However, sustaining strong communication, collaboration, and a sense of belonging in this new environment requires intentional adjustments to how we work.

In this insightful keynote, Celeste Headlee shares powerful research and real-world examples on how to navigate the shift to hybrid work. She introduces practical skills and techniques that help teams thrive—even when members are remote, in different time zones, or working across cultures.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Maintain clear, respectful communication in a digital-first world
• Build trust and inclusion across dispersed teams
• Foster psychological safety and collaboration regardless of location

Whether you're leading a fully remote team, managing hybrid schedules, or adapting your workplace culture, Celeste provides the tools to ensure teamwork doesn’t suffer—and belonging remains central.

Building an environment of belonging

Belonging is the most important need that humans have after food, shelter, and water. When we talk about inclusion, we really talking about creating a work environment where people feel they belong. Learning to do this can be one of the most powerful methods for repairing morale and creating a healthy, collaborative culture. 

Celeste offers key research about belonging and actionable takeaway and practice for both leaders and individual contributors to improve inclusion and increase belonging for all members of the team.

Building a work environment that boosts focus, creativity and innovation  

Research shows that most workers never have uninterrupted time to focus on their work. Economic studies prove that there is an economic opportunity to encourage deep focus that's worth $1.4 trillion in the US alone. With a few small changes, leaders can create an environment that allows workers to spend some of their day focusing on their work, thereby increasing the likelihood of creative problem-solving and innovation. It also boosts morale and reduces turnover.

Celeste offers research-backed insights and actionable takeaway for creating the space and environment needed to improve focus, creativity and innovation from all members of the team.

Reducing wasted time and profit through fewer, more effective and efficient meetings

Manager spent less than 10% of their time in meetings in the 1960s. Now, the average leader spends more than half their time in meetings. 71% said meetings are unproductive and inefficient. 64% said meetings come at the expense of deep thinking. Unnecessary meetings waste $25 million a day in the US. 

Celeste offers guidance for how to hold fewer meetings and actionable takeaway for making the ones you do hold more impactful, effective and efficient.

Navigating the evolving work landscape with intentional leadership and communication

The post-pandemic workplace continues to shift rapidly, demanding new approaches to leadership, communication, and team culture. Drawing from the insights of her bestselling books We Need to Talk and Do Nothing, Celeste Headlee delivers workshops tailored to support organizations across in-office, remote, and hybrid models.

In this highly relevant and research-driven keynote or workshop, Celeste addresses the unique challenges of today’s workplace, offering practical solutions to help teams stay connected, productive, and aligned.

Key topics include:

• Work-from-home stress – Why remote work can increase stress and burnout, and how to build in structures that provide relief and balance
• Remote communication and morale – Techniques like transactivity to maintain team cohesion and shared purpose
• Staying productive at home – How to foster accountability, minimize distractions, and increase focus
• Constructive feedback – Best practices for giving remote feedback and managing check-in frequency
• Structuring the workday – Tips for improving productivity and energy management
• Creative problem-solving – Small, strategic shifts that boost innovation and streamline workflows
• Effective virtual meetings – How to run conference calls that are short, focused, and impactful

Whether you’re reimagining your workplace or fine-tuning your team structure, Celeste equips leaders with actionable tools to build resilient, high-performing cultures in any setting.

Building inclusive, high-performing teams through communication and connection

In this impactful keynote, Celeste Headlee brings a science-based approach to inclusion, belonging, and effective collaboration. She shows that creating healthy diversity isn't just a moral imperative—it’s a measurable advantage.

The most successful teams are those that communicate clearly, resolve conflict productively, and embrace the unique talents of every member. Celeste shares research-backed insights demonstrating that the most innovative and resilient workplaces are those that invest in interpersonal skills, transactivity, and cross-silo collaboration.

Through her keynote or workshop, attendees will learn how to:

• Encourage open communication that supports inclusivity
• Navigate conflict constructively without escalation
• Build team cultures where every voice feels welcome and valued
• Foster collaboration across roles, backgrounds, and experiences
• Apply practical, inclusive policies that promote psychological safety
• Recognize how diversity, well-being, and productivity are deeply connected

By focusing on human connection and everyday communication, Celeste helps organizations cultivate environments where diversity thrives—not just as a goal, but as a powerful force for innovation, well-being, and performance.

If your organization is serious about building stronger teams and retaining talent, this is the session that shows you how.